System and method for modeling a search query

ABSTRACT

A computer method and system for providing information results in response to a natural language information request. The system and method include receiving a natural language information request from a user and compiling a computer executable query from the natural language information request from a user wherein the query is formatted to extract data from one or more computer databases. The query is then presented to the user prior to execution of the query so as to enable the user to change the query prior to its execution. The query is then executed to extract data from one or more computer databases whereby extracted data is presented to the user in a certain presentation format.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/139,335 filed on Dec. 23, 2013 which claims priority to U.S. PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/745,983 filed Dec. 26, 2012, which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a natural language querysystem for processing voice. More specifically, the present inventionrelates to a natural language query system for modeling a query.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of personal computers (PCs), personal digital assistants (PDAs).Web-enabled phones, smart phones, tablet devices, wire line and wirelessnetworks, the Internet, Web-based query systems and engines, and thelike has gained relatively widespread acceptance in recent years. Thisis due, in large part, to the relatively widespread availability ofhigh-speed, broadband Internet access through digital subscriber lines(DSLs) (including asymmetric digital subscriber lines (ADSLs) andvery-high-bit-rate digital subscriber lines (VDSLs)), cable modems,satellite modems, wireless local area networks (WLANs), 3G/4G wirelesssystems, and the like. Thus far, user interaction with PCs, PDAs, smartphones, tablet devices, Web-enabled phones, wireline and wirelessnetworks, the Internet, Web-based query systems and engines, and thelike has been primarily non-voice-based, through keyboards, mice,intelligent electronic pads, monitors, touch screens, printers, and thelike. This has limited the adoption and use of these devices and systemssomewhat, and it has long been felt that allowing for accurate, precise,and reliable voice-based user interaction, mimicking normal humaninteraction, would be advantageous. For example, allowing for accurate,precise, and reliable voice-based user interaction would certainly drawmore users to e-commerce, e-support, e-learning, etc., and reducelearning curves.

In this context, “mimicking normal human interaction” means that a userwould be able to speak a question into a Web-enabled device or the likeand the Web-enabled device or the like would respond quickly with anappropriate answer or response, through text, graphics, or synthesizedspeech, the Web-enabled device or the like not simply converting theuser's question into text and performing a routine search, but trulyunderstanding and modeling the user's question.

Several products and services currently allow for limited voice-baseduser interaction with PCs. PDAs, and the like. Such software productsinclude, for example, Dragon NaturallySpeaking™ by Scansoft, Inc. andSIRI™ by Apple. These products, however, which allow a user to performdictation, voice-based command-and-control functions are ofteninaccurate, imprecise, and unreliable.

Existing systems, apparatuses, software products, and methods forproviding natural language query services suffer from at least one ofthe following shortcomings. They often require time-consuming, and ofteninaccurate, imprecise, unreliable, and require voice training.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose and advantages of the below described illustratedembodiments will be set forth in and apparent from the description thatfollows. Additional advantages of the illustrated embodiments will berealized and attained by the devices, systems and methods particularlypointed out in the written description and claims hereof, as well asfrom the appended drawings.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purposeof the illustrated embodiments, in one aspect, a computer method andsystem for providing information results in response to a naturallanguage information request is described in which a natural languageinformation request is received from a user and a computer executablequery is compiled from the natural language information request whereinthe query is formatted to extract data from one or more computerdatabases. The query is then presented to the user prior to execution ofthe query so as to enable the user to change the query prior to itsexecution. The query is then executed to extract data from one or morecomputer databases whereby extracted data is presented to the user in acertain presentation format.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying appendices and/or drawings illustrate variousnon-limiting, example, inventive aspects in accordance with the presentdisclosure:

FIG. 1 depicts a system overview and data-flow in an illustrativeembodiment of system operation;

FIG. 2 depicts process flows in accordance with certain illustrativeembodiments;

FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative system architecture according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 depicts a method in accordance with an illustrative embodiment ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 5 depicts an illustrative screen shot from a user's deviceindicating the opportunity to modify a computer compiled query.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is now described more fully with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which an illustrated embodiment of the presentinvention is shown. The present invention is not limited in any way tothe illustrated embodiments as the illustrated embodiments describedbelow are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied invarious forms, as appreciated by one skilled in the art. Therefore, itis to be understood that any structural and functional details disclosedherein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis forthe claims and as a representative for teaching one skilled in the artto variously employ the present invention. Furthermore, the terms andphrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather toprovide an understandable description of the invention. Also, the flowcharts and methods described herein do not imply either required stepsor a required order to the steps, and the illustrated embodiments andprocesses may be implemented in any order and/or combination that ispracticable.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods andmaterials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also beused in the practice or testing of the present invention, exemplarymethods and materials are now described. All publications mentionedherein are incorporated herein by reference to disclose and describe themethods and/or materials in connection with which the publications arecited.

It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, thesingular forms “a”, “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless thecontext clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “astimulus” includes a plurality of such stimuli and reference to “thesignal” includes reference to one or more signals and equivalentsthereof known to those skilled in the art, and so forth.

It is to be appreciated the embodiments of this invention as discussedbelow are preferably a software algorithm, program or code residing oncomputer useable medium having control logic for enabling execution on amachine having a computer processor. The machine typically includesmemory storage configured to provide output from execution of thecomputer algorithm or program.

As used herein, the term “software” is meant to be synonymous with anycode or program that can be in a processor of a host computer,regardless of whether the implementation is in hardware, firmware or asa software computer product available on a disc, a memory storagedevice, or for download from a remote machine. The embodiments describedherein include such software to implement the equations, relationshipsand algorithms described above. One skilled in the art will appreciatefurther features and advantages of the invention based on theabove-described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to belimited by what has been particularly shown and described, except asindicated by the appended claims. All publications and references citedherein are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar referencecharacters denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1depicts an exemplary general-purpose computing system in whichillustrated embodiments of the present invention may be implemented.

A generalized computering embodiment in which the present invention canbe realized is depicted in FIG. 1 illustrating a processing system 100which generally comprises at least one processor 102, or processing unitor plurality of processors, memory 104, at least one input device 106and at least one output device 108, coupled together via a bus or groupof buses 110. In certain embodiments, input device 106 and output device108 could be the same device. An interface 112 can also be provided forcoupling the processing system 100 to one or more peripheral devices,for example interface 112 could be a PCI card or PC card. At least onestorage device 114 which houses at least one database 116 can also beprovided. The memory 104 can be any form of memory device, for example,volatile or non-volatile memory, solid state storage devices, magneticdevices, etc. The processor 102 could comprise more than one distinctprocessing device, for example to handle different functions within theprocessing system 100. Input device 106 receives input data 118 and cancomprise, for example, a keyboard, a pointer device such as a pen-likedevice or a mouse, audio receiving device for voice controlledactivation such as a microphone, data receiver or antenna such as amodem or wireless data adaptor, data acquisition card, etc. Input data118 could come from different sources, for example keyboard instructionsin conjunction with data received via a network. Output device 108produces or generates output data 120 and can comprise, for example, adisplay device or monitor in which case output data 120 is visual, aprinter in which case output data 120 is printed, a port for example aUSB port, a peripheral component adaptor, a data transmitter or antennasuch as a modem or wireless network adaptor, etc. Output data 120 couldbe distinct and derived from different output devices, for example avisual display on a monitor in conjunction with data transmitted to anetwork. A user could view data output, or an interpretation of the dataoutput, on, for example, a monitor or using a printer. The storagedevice 114 can be any form of data or information storage means, forexample, volatile or non-volatile memory, solid state storage devices,magnetic devices, etc.

In use, the processing system 100 is adapted to allow data orinformation to be stored in and/or retrieved from, via wired or wirelesscommunication means, at least one database 116. The interface 112 mayallow wired and/or wireless communication between the processing unit102 and peripheral components that may serve a specialized purpose.Preferably, the processor 102 receives instructions as input data 118via input device 106 and can display processed results or other outputto a user by utilizing output device 108. More than one input device 106and/or output device 108 can be provided. It should be appreciated thatthe processing system 100 may be any form of terminal, server,specialized hardware, or the like.

It is to be appreciated that the processing system 100 may be a part ofa networked communications system. Processing system 100 could connectto a network, for example the Internet or a WAN. Input data 118 andoutput data 120 could be communicated to other devices via the network.The transfer of information and/or data over the network can be achievedusing wired communications means or wireless communications means. Aserver can facilitate the transfer of data between the network and oneor more databases. A server and one or more databases provide an exampleof an information source.

Thus, the processing computing system environment 100 illustrated inFIG. 1 may operate in a networked environment using logical connectionsto one or more remote computers. The remote computer may be a personalcomputer, a server, a router, a network PC, a peer device, or othercommon network node, and typically includes many or all of the elementsdescribed above.

It is to be further appreciated that the logical connections depicted inFIG. 1 include a local area network (LAN) and a wide area network (WAN),but may also include other networks such as a personal area network(PAN). Such networking environments are commonplace in offices,enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets, and the Internet. Forinstance, when used in a LAN networking environment, the computingsystem environment 100 is connected to the LAN through a networkinterface or adapter. When used in a WAN networking environment, thecomputing system environment typically includes a modem or other meansfor establishing communications over the WAN, such as the Internet. Themodem, which may be internal or external, may be connected to a systembus via a user input interface, or via another appropriate mechanism. Ina networked environment, program modules depicted relative to thecomputing system environment 100, or portions thereof, may be stored ina remote memory storage device. It is to be appreciated that theillustrated network connections of FIG. 1 are exemplary and other meansof establishing a communications link between multiple computers may beused.

FIG. 1 is intended to provide a brief, general description of anillustrative and/or suitable exemplary environment in which embodimentsof the below described present invention may be implemented. FIG. 1 isan example of a suitable environment and is not intended to suggest anylimitation as to the structure, scope of use, or functionality of anembodiment of the present invention. A particular environment should notbe interpreted as having any dependency or requirement relating to anyone or combination of components illustrated in an exemplary operatingenvironment. For example, in certain instances, one or more elements ofan environment may be deemed not necessary and omitted. In otherinstances, one or more other elements may be deemed necessary and added.

In the description that follows, certain embodiments may be describedwith reference to acts and symbolic representations of operations thatare performed by one or more computing devices, such as the computingsystem environment 100 of FIG. 1. As such, it will be understood thatsuch acts and operations, which are at times referred to as beingcomputer-executed, include the manipulation by the processor of thecomputer of electrical signals representing data in a structured form.This manipulation transforms the data or maintains them at locations inthe memory system of the computer, which reconfigures or otherwisealters the operation of the computer in a manner understood by thoseskilled in the art. The data structures in which data is maintained arephysical locations of the memory that have particular properties definedby the format of the data. However, while an embodiment is beingdescribed in the foregoing context, it is not meant to be limiting asthose of skill in the art will appreciate that the acts and operationsdescribed hereinafter may also be implemented in hardware.

Embodiments may be implemented with numerous other general-purpose orspecial-purpose computing devices and computing system environments orconfigurations. Examples of well-known computing systems, environments,and configurations that may be suitable for use with an embodimentinclude, but are not limited to, personal computers, handheld or laptopdevices, personal digital assistants, tablet devices, smart phonedevices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems, set topboxes, programmable consumer electronics, network, minicomputers, servercomputers, game server computers, web server computers, mainframecomputers, and distributed computing environments that include any ofthe above systems or devices.

Embodiments may be described in a general context of computer-executableinstructions, such as program modules, being executed by a computer.Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects,components, data structures, etc., that perform particular tasks orimplement particular abstract data types. An embodiment may also bepracticed in a distributed computing environment where tasks areperformed by remote processing devices that are linked through acommunications network. In a distributed computing environment, programmodules may be located in both local and remote computer storage mediaincluding memory storage devices.

With the exemplary computing system environment 100 of FIG. 1 beinggenerally shown and discussed above, FIG. 2 illustrates process flows inaccordance with certain embodiments (which is to be understood toincorporate system 302, or components thereof). In general, the naturallanguage query system and method in accordance with the illustrativeembodiments described herein may incorporate and combine the followingtechnologies:

Speech Processing

Speech processing allows PCs, PDAs, Web-enabled phones, smart phones,tablet devices, and the like to recognize—and, to some extent,understand—spoken language. Spoken language is “eyes free” and “handsfree”, allowing a PC, PDA. Web-enabled phone, smart phone, tabletdevice, or the like to be used anywhere. This technology has engenderedtwo types of software products: continuous-speech recognition softwareproducts and command-and-control software products. Because acontext-free grammar allows a speech recognition engine to reducerecognized words to those contained in a predetermined list, highdegrees of speech recognition may be achieved in a speaker-independentenvironment. A context-free grammar may be used with relativelyinexpensive microphones, limited central processing units (CPUs), and notime-consuming, and often inaccurate, imprecise, and unreliable, voicetraining. Although speech processing technology is not new, speechrecognition accuracy rates are just now becoming acceptable for naturallanguage discourse.Speech SynthesisSpeech Synthesis provides the ability to mimic speech which isparticularly useful for applications that require spontaneous userinteraction, or in situations where viewing or reading are impractical,such as, for example, when a PC, PDA, Web-enabled phone, smart phone,tablet device, or the like provide driving directions or instructions tothe driver of a vehicle. In software products aimed at the average user,it is important that output sounds are pleasant and sound human enoughto encourage regular use. Several software products now bring relativelyinexpensive and effective conversational access to informationapplications and accelerate the acceptance of speech as a user interfacealternative for Web-based and mobile applications, including, forexample, Microsoft Speech Server by Microsoft Corp. Microsoft SpeechServer currently supports numerous languages and is based on theopen-standard Speech Application Language Tags (SALT) specification,which extends familiar mark-up languages and leverages the existingWeb-development paradigm.Natural Language Processing (NLP) SystemsNLP systems interpret written, rather than spoken, language and may befound in speech processing systems that begin by converting spoken inputinto text. Using lexicons and grammar rules, NLP parses sentences,determines underlying meanings, and retrieves or constructs responses.NLP technology's main use is in enabling databases to answer queriespresented in the form of questions. Another use is in handlinghigh-volume email. NLP performance may be improved by incorporating acommon sense knowledge base—that is, a set of real-world rules. Almostall of the database query languages tend to be rigid and difficult tolearn, and it is often difficult for even the most experienced user toget desired information out of a database. A natural language interfaceto the SQL language overcomes the need for users to master thecomplexities of the SQL language.

It is noted certain features provided by the embodiments illustratedherein include (and are not limited to) modeling a user's spokenrequest, preferably with input from the requester prior to submissionfor execution of the request to ensure accuracy. In particular, arequester preferably confirms a query is presented (modeled) in a propercontext. Over the passage of time and usage, a “learning engine” is ableto adaptively model queries for providing more accurate queries, andthus results. Other features include providing access to certaindatabases for providing results based upon information relating to auser's “standing” (e.g., is the user a client, employee, executivestaff, have proper security access authorizations, etc.).

It is to be understood the certain illustrated embodiments disclose amethod and system which utilize a modeling engine with natural analyticsto: 1) intelligently determine (and predict) a spoken user query; and 2)determine user query results (and security access level authorization)at least contingent one or more of the following:

-   -   User ID and/or enterprise standing (obtained via a plurality of        ways (e.g., cell phone no, device ID, IP address, GPS, biometric        analysis and the like))    -   Location based query (e.g., did query originate from a        “help-line”)    -   Predetermined user rights (e.g., individual and/or group based)    -   Predictive user behavior based on user query precedent    -   Event and/or time based queries    -   Formatting and/or using heat maps for data requests

With a discussion of FIGS. 1 and 2 being provided above, discussion willnow turn to FIG. 3 (which incorporates system 100, or componentsthereof) which illustrates an exemplary architecture for the invention.As noted above, it is to be appreciated the present invention relates tosystems, methods and computer-readable media for providing a naturallanguage dialog to a database such as the WWW, a corporate database, aprivate database or any other database. As can be appreciated, a benefitof the invention will be to model accurate/intelligent queries which mayprovide results target to a certain user class/category. For instance, asearch query that is common for two user's (e.g., provide corporatefinancial reports for the 4th quarter for Acme Inc.) may providediffering results since one user (e.g., Acme CEO) may have access tomore data than the other user (e.g., an Acme shareholder). The computingdevices and servers shown may include such known hardware components asdescribed above with reference to FIG. 1, such as a central processor, abus connecting various hardware components, memory, storage means suchas a hard disk, random access memory, means for communicating andnetworking with other computers, and so forth. These components,improvements and variations thereof based on different devices are knownto those of skill in the art.

As shown in FIG. 3, a computing device 302 enables a user to interactwith the device 302 as well as other databases such as the WWW 350. Thecomputing device 302 may be, for example, a server, a desktop, laptopcomputer or another type of suitable computing device. There is norestriction on the particular configuration of the computing devicehardware or the particular means with which it communicates with othercomputing devices for searching the WWW or any other database. Thecomputing device 302 preferably runs software that provides a userinterface for interacting with the device. In one example, the clientsoftware is a browser 314 such as Internet Explorer® or Mozilla® whereina user can direct the browser to a search engine website such as Google.For instance, the search engine server 312 may serve a webpage to theuser on the compute device 302 and when the user inputs a text searchfrom which a search query is modeled as described below, the server 312uses an algorithm to search webpages and/or data files from databasesand presents results to a user.

It is to be appreciated the certain embodiments illustrated hereinprovides for a natural language dialog approach to modeling a searchquery for searching one or more databases. In one aspect of theinvention, the computing device includes a microphone 306 for receivingvoice input from the user. An automatic speech recognition (ASR) engineor module 308 converts the speech into text 310. While the ASR engine isshown as part of the computing device 302, there is no restriction onwhere any particular hardware or software component resides. Forexample, the microphone may be separate from the computing device 302and the ASR module may run on the dialog server 304 instead of thecompute device 302. Those of skill in the art will understand thevariations that are possible and contemplated while maintaining the coreprinciples of the invention. It is preferably that a large vocabularyspeech recognizer be used as the front-end to the user's request.

The text is preferably transmitted to a dialog server 304 that extractskey data from the user query. Various modules may be programmed toperform the steps set forth herein for practicing the invention. Thoseof skill in the art will understand the programming language and meansfor creating these various modules. Reference is now also made to FIG. 4as the steps of the method embodiment of the invention are discussed. Itis noted that the order of steps shown in FIG. 4 is not required, so inprinciple, the various steps may be performed out of the illustratedorder. Also certain steps may be skipped, different steps may be addedor substituted, or selected steps or groups of steps may be performed ina separate application following the embodiments described herein.

Starting at step 402, a user initiates a query request for informationresults which can be achieved via a user computing device (e.g.,desktop, laptop, tablet device, smart phone device and the like) coupledvia a network to compute device 302. The user's request for informationresults is provided via a natural language information request,preferably spoken into the user's aforesaid computing device (step 404).It is noted the user's request for information results may include arequest to present extracted information in a predefined format such asa graphics based presentation (e.g., graphs, pie charts, etc) and/or atext based presentation (ASCII) (e.g., textual presentations, tables,spreadsheets, etc.).

This natural language information request is then transmitted tocomputing device 302 (via known networking methods and systems), whichcompute device 302 is configured and operational to compile a computerexecutable search query from the user's aforesaid natural languageinformation request, which search query is formatted to extract datafrom one or more databases 350 (step 406). The compute device 302 may beconfigured and operational to learn (via analytical analysis), andretain in memory 104, the habits, trends and definitions for compiling acomputer executable query based from user natural language input, whichare then utilized by compute device 302 for compiling the presentcomputer executable query. It is to be appreciated the aforesaid learnedhabits, trends and definitions for compiling a computer executable querymay be associated with the present user and/or associated with one ormore different users.

Next, and with reference to FIG. 5, prior to computer execution of thecompiled search query, compute device 302 presents the modeled searchquery to the user, preferably via a display provided on the user'scomputing device to enable the user to determine if the modeled query isacceptable (step 408). It is to be appreciated the modeled search querymay be presented to the user in numerous formats understandable by theuser including in a natural language format, textual format, Booleanstring format, and the like. Next, the user indicates whether themodeled query is acceptable, preferably via input with the user'scomputing device (step 410). If the modeled query is not acceptable, theuser then modifies the modeled query, via preferably input to user'scomputing device (step 412), whereafter process is returned to step 404.It is to be appreciated a user may change a query through using any knowmeans, including, but not limited to natural language input, gestureinput, keyboard, etc.

If the modeled query is acceptable (step 410), the query is thenformatted for computer execution (e.g., transformed into a Booleansearch string or any other format suitable for computer interpolation)(step 414) whereafter the query is executed by compute device 302 toextract information results from various databases (e.g., public,private, WWW, etc.) (step 416). The compute device is preferablyconfigured and operational to retrieve information results from one ormore databases contingent upon the user's identity. For instance, if theuser is identified as a CEO of Acme Inc. that user will have access tomore data than would a user who is only identified as a shareholder ofAcme Inc. The compute device 302 may determine the user's identity forinstance from one or more of the following: user biometrics;identification of user's cellular phone; user's IP address; and GPScoordinates associated with user and any other attributes that may beused by the compute device 302 to identify the user.

The results of the query are then provided to the user, preferably viathe user's computing device (e.g., display), and preferably in apredefined format if requested by the user (step 418). The user thenreviews the query results to determine if they are acceptable (step420), which includes whether the content of the results are acceptableand/or if the format for how the results are presented is acceptable(step 420). If no, then process returns to step 412 wherein the user isable to modify the modeled query to retrieve different results and/orhave the results presented in a different presentation format.

Optional embodiments of the present invention may also be said tobroadly consist in the parts, elements and features referred to orindicated herein, individually or collectively, in any or allcombinations of two or more of the parts, elements or features, andwherein specific integers are mentioned herein which have knownequivalents in the art to which the invention relates, such knownequivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually setforth.

The above presents a description of a best mode contemplated forcarrying out the present invention and of the manner and process ofmaking and using it in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as toenable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains to make anduse these devices and methods. The present invention is, however,susceptible to modifications and alternative method steps from thosediscussed above that are fully equivalent. Consequently, the presentinvention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed. On thecontrary, the present invention encompasses all modifications andalternative constructions and methods coming within the spirit and scopeof the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer implemented method for providinginformation results in response to a natural language informationrequest comprising: receiving a natural language information requestfrom a user wherein the request includes instructions to present resultsin a predefined format; compiling a computer executable query from saidnatural language information request from a user wherein said query isformatted to extract data from one or more computer databases;determining access to one or more databases based upon user identity andpredetermined user authorization to access the one or computerdatabases; executing said query to selectively extract data from saidone or more determined accessible computer databases based upon useridentity and predetermined user authorization associated with the useridentity for retrieving data from the one or computer databases suchthat query results are extracted from said one or more computerdatabases based upon the user authorization associated with the useridentity; and presenting said query results to said user in the userrequested predefined format.
 2. A computer implemented method as recitedin claim 1 wherein said predefined format includes a graphics basedpresentation.
 3. A computer implemented method as recited in claim 1wherein said predefined format includes an ASCII based presentation. 4.A computer implemented method as recited in claim 1 further includingthe step of retaining in computer memory learned habits, trends anddefinitions for compiling prior queries.
 5. A computer implementedmethod as recited in claim 4 wherein said retained learned habits,trends and definitions for prior compiled queries are utilized forcompiling said computer executable query.
 6. A computer implementedmethod as recited in claim 4 wherein said learned habits, trends anddefinitions for compiling prior queries are associated with said user.7. A computer implemented method as recited in claim 4 wherein saidlearned habits, trends and definitions for compiling prior queries areassociated with one or more different users.
 8. A computer implementedmethod as recited in claim 1 wherein providing information results inresponse to a natural language information request further includespresenting said query to said user prior to execution of said query andenabling a user to change said query prior to its execution.
 9. Acomputer implemented method as recited in claim 8 wherein said step ofenabling a user to change said query prior to its execution includesusing at least one of voice recognition, a computer keyboard a usergesture and user touch input to change said query.
 10. A computerimplemented method as recited in claim 1 wherein said extracted data ispresented in the user defined format.
 11. A computer implemented methodas recited in claim 10 wherein said step of presenting said extracteddata includes enabling a user to redefine a format for presenting saidextracted data.
 12. A computer implemented method as recited in claim 1,further including determining the identity of the user.
 13. A computerimplemented method as recited in claim 12, where the identity of theuser is determined based upon an IP address corresponding to a computernetwork device associated with the user.
 14. A computer implementedmethod as recited in claim 12, wherein the identity of the user isdetermined based upon biometric information corresponding to the user.15. A computer system for providing information results in response to anatural language information request, comprising: a memory configured tostore instructions; a processor disposed in communication with saidmemory, wherein said processor upon execution of the instructions isconfigured to: receive a natural language information request from auser wherein the request includes instructions to present results in apredefined format; compile a computer executable query from said naturallanguage information request from a user wherein said query is formattedto extract data from one or more computer databases; presenting saidquery to said user prior to execution of said query and enabling a userto change said query prior to its execution; determine access to one ormore databases based upon user identity and predetermined userauthorization to access the one or computer databases; and execute saidquery to selectively extract data from said one or more determinedaccessible computer databases based upon user identity and predetermineduser authorization associated with the user identity for retrieving datafrom the one or computer databases such that query results are extractedfrom said one or more computer databases based upon the userauthorization associated with the user identity.
 16. A computer systemas recited in claim 15 wherein said step of enabling a user to changesaid query prior to its execution includes using at least one of voicerecognition, a computer keyboard a user gesture and user touch input tochange said query.